No longer relegated to office furniture, the modern upholstered swivel chair is a fresh take on living room seating.

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The Top 10 Swivel Chairs

The Top 10 Swivel Chairs

For those occasions that require a little extra movement, a swivel chair can be a godsend. Thomas Jefferson, the inventor of the rotating seat, sat in one while drafting the Declaration of Independence. But even if your ambitions aren't any loftier than kicking back on a lazy Sunday, there are plenty of reasons to introduce swivel chairs into a room.

"People mostly think of them as office furniture," says designer and television host Evette Ríos. "But they're ideal for making any kind of space multifunctional, or allowing two spaces to communicate with each other." We like to "rock and roll" in our seats, she adds. "They make you feel powerful. You feel like a badass in a swivel chair."

Designer Barry Dixon says he likes to put rotating chairs "wherever there's a television." He notes that many have a hidden mechanism, so they pass as conventional chairs. "Then you sit down and immediately realize you're in control," he says. "I love that little surprise."

THE EXPERTS

EVETTE RÍOS

The Brooklyn-born designer has developed a second career as a television personality. She is a correspondent for ABC's The Chewand host of CBS's Recipe Rehab.evetterios.com

BARRY DIXON

Virginia-based Dixon brings Southern sophistication to homes in places from the Caribbean to Beijing. His new collections include accessories for Arteriors, fabrics for Vervain, and paint colors for C2. barrydixon.com

1 / EVIN SWIVEL CHAIR BY BAKER

1 / EVIN SWIVEL CHAIR BY BAKER

Evette Ríos admires the traditional, clean-line shape, which can be ordered in any Baker fabric or leather, or c.o.m.: "It's great for a living room," she says. "I'd do a pair in a bright print to add some fun." Barry Dixon raves about the chair, which he has used multiple times: "It's comfortable enough to relax in, yet supportive enough to work on a laptop." 31" w. x 40" d. x 34" h.; $3,549;bakerfurniture.com

The Top 10 Swivel Chairs

For those occasions that require a little extra movement, a swivel chair can be a godsend. Thomas Jefferson, the inventor of the rotating seat, sat in one while drafting the Declaration of Independence. But even if your ambitions aren't any loftier than kicking back on a lazy Sunday, there are plenty of reasons to introduce swivel chairs into a room.

"People mostly think of them as office furniture," says designer and television host Evette Ríos. "But they're ideal for making any kind of space multifunctional, or allowing two spaces to communicate with each other." We like to "rock and roll" in our seats, she adds. "They make you feel powerful. You feel like a badass in a swivel chair."

Designer Barry Dixon says he likes to put rotating chairs "wherever there's a television." He notes that many have a hidden mechanism, so they pass as conventional chairs. "Then you sit down and immediately realize you're in control," he says. "I love that little surprise."

THE EXPERTS

EVETTE RÍOS

The Brooklyn-born designer has developed a second career as a television personality. She is a correspondent for ABC's The Chewand host of CBS's Recipe Rehab.evetterios.com

BARRY DIXON

Virginia-based Dixon brings Southern sophistication to homes in places from the Caribbean to Beijing. His new collections include accessories for Arteriors, fabrics for Vervain, and paint colors for C2. barrydixon.com

1 / EVIN SWIVEL CHAIR BY BAKER

Evette Ríos admires the traditional, clean-line shape, which can be ordered in any Baker fabric or leather, or c.o.m.: "It's great for a living room," she says. "I'd do a pair in a bright print to add some fun." Barry Dixon raves about the chair, which he has used multiple times: "It's comfortable enough to relax in, yet supportive enough to work on a laptop." 31" w. x 40" d. x 34" h.; $3,549;bakerfurniture.com

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2 / STOCKHOLM SWIVEL EASY CHAIR BY IKEA

"This chair is small," says Ríos, "so it doesn't take up a lot of space. The velvet upholstery makes it tactile and sexy, and the color is phenomenal—yellow is one of my favorites." Dixon would place two alongside a cocktail table in lieu of a larger chair, or four around a gaming table. "If you're playing cards for a long time, you can adjust yourself easily." Also available in Beige and Green. 26" w. x 30" d. x 30" h.; $399; ikea.com

4 / TAKE A LINE FOR A WALK CHAIR BY ALFREDO HäBERLI FOR MOROSO

For Ríos, this chair's leather upholstery outlined with visible stitching exudes sex appeal: "It's very Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct," she says. Dixon would use it in a family room as a TV-viewing chair. "It's contemporary—yet you could interject it into a colonial tableau, next to a traditional fireplace, to stir things up." Available in other colors. 32" w. x 35" d. x 43" h.; $4,180; morosousa.com

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5 / GIANT TUB SWIVEL CHAIR BY MILO BAUGHMAN FOR THAYER COGGIN

"This is big enough for two people to watch a movie," says Dixon. "It's like a swiveling love seat." A round chair like this can take the angle out of a bedroom corner, he adds. "It's the kind of chair you want to snuggle up in with your morning coffee," adds Ríos. Shown in Nava Red, it comes in other fabrics and c.o.m.; a matching ottoman is available. 46" w. x 43" d. x 30" h.; $3,456;propertyfurniture.com

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6 / PALOMA LOWBACK LOUNGE CHAIR BY GREGORIUS PINEO

"This chair could be the modern element in a traditional room, or the traditional item in a modern room," Dixon says. "It's like the intriguing guest you want to sit next to at dinner." Ríos calls it "the Cadillac of swivel chairs—it's a beauty." Made to order with c.o.m., it's grand enough for a city home and casual enough for a vacation cottage, she says. 28" w. x 36" d. x 37" h.; $5,183;gregoriuspineo.com

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7 / CHIARA CHAIR BY BERNHARDT DESIGN

"This is what you think of when you think of a swivel chair," says Ríos. "It's very 1960s, very Pop." She admires its self-returning swivel: "The room never looks disheveled." Dixon loves the shape—"it has more of that Sputnik, space-age feel to it." He envisions the chair in a sleek, urban glass tower, "so I could turn to the spectacular panorama." Available in other colors or c.o.m. 30" w. x 29" d. x 29" h.; $1,823; bernhardtdesign.com

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8 / NICO SWIVEL CHAIR BY MITCHELL GOLD + BOB WILLIAMS

"This one looks good from any angle," Dixon says. "With the cutout in back, it would be great in front of some groovy wallpaper." Ríos finds it provides comfort at a great price: "Perfect for a family room—what better spot to play video games?" Shown in Black, it comes in any of the firm's fabrics and leathers or c.o.m. 31" w. x 29" d. x 27" h.; $1,860; mgbwhome.com

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9 / RATTAN SWIVEL STOOL BY PALECEK

"You're not going to watch TV in this one," says Dixon. "Instead, it would be fantastic around a farmhouse table in the country or at the beach—you can tuck them underneath when you're done." The natural material has texture and interest, says Ríos. "It looks like you've got a basket in the corner, and it turns out to be a comfortable chair." Shown in Dark Walnut, it comes in a range of colors. 26" dia. x 18" h.; $592; zincdoor.com